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Management break up splits Jon Jones, Rashad Evans - NBC Sports

Authentic Sports Management and First Round Management, two major players in the MMA world, have split.

May 7, 2011, 10:05 am

Ariel Helwani

Authentic Sports Management and First Round Management, two major players in the MMA world, have split, just a couple months after merging.

In a joint statement, the company announced that manager Malki Kawa would be leaving Authentic Sports Management to resume his role as head of First Round Management. Glenn Robinson will remain head of Authentic Sports Management.

The companies merged in Feb. 2011.

According to both Kawa and Robinson, the split was an amicable one.

"We agree that this decision allows us to provide more focus, deeper resources and only the absolute best management services for the athletes we represent," Robinson said in the press release. "This agreement is mutual and on good terms with the best intentions for everyone."

"As managers we both agree this is the right move," Kawa said. "We understand and respect each other, and at this point I will go in a different direction."

Authentic Sports Management represented some of the biggest names in MMA, most notably UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Interestingly enough, they also represented Jones' friend-turned-rival Rashad Evans. Both Kawa and Robinson maintained that the recent friction between the former training partners had nothing to do with the split.

Below is a list of the notable names who will be staying with Authentic and who will be moving on with First Round.